Martin County’s Brayden Marcum and Elaina Jewell are among 100 students from 45 Kentucky counties selected for the 2026 Rogers Scholars program.

The two rising high school juniors will join students from across Southern and Eastern Kentucky in the summer leadership program, which focuses on entrepreneurship, leadership development and career exploration.

Other students selected from nearby counties are Herbert “Connor” Bradley, Elle Parsley, Russell Robinson and Mia Domingue of Lawrence County; Olivia Sorrell of Johnson County; Ava Bailey and Elizabeth Goble of Floyd County; Kailyn Arnett and Samuel Montgomery of Magoffin County; and Isabella Olegario, Liley Reitz, Issac Lester and Garrett Varney of Pike County.

“Congratulations to our newest class of Rogers Scholars,” Lonnie Lawson, president and chief executive of The Center for Rural Development, said in a statement. “We are excited to announce this year’s Rogers Scholars and cannot wait to meet this amazing group of students.”

Now in its 28th year, the Rogers Scholars program serves rising high school juniors from the region, helping them to build confidence, strengthen leadership skills and connect with educational and career pathways in Kentucky.

This year’s program will be in two sessions: May 31 through June 5 at Morehead State University and June 14 through June 19 at Lindsey Wilson University.

For more information, call 606-677-6000, visit centeryouthprograms.com or email [email protected]